Knitting machine



Nov. 15, 1927. 1,649,126

M. RATIGNIER KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 5, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 15, 1927. 1,649,126

M. RATIGNIER KNITTING MACHINE Filed July 5, 1924 s Sheets-Shet 2 lffarwf) M. RATIGNIER KNITTING MACHINE glued July. 5, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Ma 77'; 2.; fa'a z zr' MEAT-HUS RATIGNIER, OF VILLEUIELBANIQ'E, FRAN'GE, AISSTGNOR TO ANGLO SHAH COR- PORATION LTIEL. 01 1161333911, ENGLAND.

KNITTIINQ MACHINE.

[application filed July 3, 1924, Serial No. 724,653, and in France July 10, 1923.

Th present invention relates to improvements in circular knitting; machines for manufacturing fabrics having all the features of those known as inilanese that is to say with threads crossed diagonally and in contrary directions without interruption in the direction or the displacement or the threads.

The machine which is of comparatively simple and economical construction has the advantage over the present type oi a great speed in working allowing of obtaining an intensive production.

The machine is characterized by an assemblage cit special devices combined with a view to obtaining the following actions 1. Fixity of the drum oi which the needles alone receive the usual upward and downward reciprocating movement.

2. Rotation in contrary direction and with an intermittent movement oi two rings superposed above the drum.

3. Rotation in contrary direction at the same speed as the rings but having a continuous motion or two bobbin plates the threads from which guided by the rings feed the needles.

4t. Vertical movement of a presser cone hich bears on the fabric during the upward movementof thenecdles in order to prevent the fabric from rising with the said needles. The stitch thus formed turns down the hinged heck of the needle and passes behind this hook.

5. Coupling of all the axes of the thread bobbins of one plate carrier by means of bevelpinions so as to synchronize the speeds oi rotation thereoil produced by the unwinding of the threads.

6. Adjustment of the tension of all the threads or one ring obtained by means of a tension bar acting on each bobbin. Each of these bars being subjected to the action of tension. springs of which the purpose is to tension the threads during the working of the machine.

The accompanying drawing slmws by way of example a practical form oi construction of the invention.

.l ig. 1 is a vertical section of the machine taken through the axis of the driving-gear motion of the upper presser cone.

Fig. 2 is an upper plan view.

Fig. 8 is a semi-section oi the lower part of the machine taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

a vertical section on line tl of 2, showing the regulator device of the bobbin-plates.

5 is a detail view in front elevation of the driving gear of the machine illustrated in plan by Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a detail side view of the driving- 'ear oi the machine showing thedrivinn; device of the vertical shaft actuating the bobbin-plates. .Fig. .7 is a detail view in elevation 01 the upper part of the drum taken on a line.7.7 of Fig. 8 showing the driving gear tor the vertical movement of the needles.

8 is a partial section of the upper part or the drum in which is disposed the retaining card for the fabric.

igs. 9 and 10 represent two pneumatic re taininp; devices of the fabric applied to the upper part of the drum.

The machine is constructed as follows:-

On a base 1 is mounted a fixed drum 2 on the outside of which is centrally mounted a movable cylinder 3 carrying at its upper part by means of small columns t a ring 5 provided with small plates 6. The upper surface of the ring 5 is provided with teeth 7 with which engage aseries of pinions 8 rotating on spindles 9 supported by an outer fixed telly 10. The pinions 8 drive the teeth 11 oi? an upper ring, 12 which is also provided with small plates 13 and small colunms 14: supporting a circular rail 15 on which pins 16 are mounted which separate the upper threads 17 of the machine. These threads 17 are furnished by a series of bobbins 18 circularly arranged on a ring 19 having interior teeth, and the axles 20 of the bobbins are coupled by bevel-gears 21, Fig. 2. The groups of threads 17 from the respective bobbins .18 are tensioned between said bobbins and the circular rail 15 over which they pass by means of a series of horizontal tension bars 22 one to each bobbin. These bars are carried by arms 22" mounted on pivpts 23 and being drawn outwards by is so that the bars 22 tension the threads by bending them outwards as shown in Fig. 1. The arrangement of these thread tensioning bars is only diagrammatically shown in Fig 1 but it can bereadily under stood that they are mounted with their tensioning springs so as to rotate round the axis of the machine with the bobbins 18.

A. ring with outer teeth 25 arranged below the former is also provided with bobbins 26 of which the axlesare coupled in the same manner as those of the bobbins 18. The bobbins 26 furnish a group of threads 27 which also pass over tension bars 22 and are distributed between the small plates 6 of the lower ring 5. I

The tension bars 22 are carried on arms 24 pivoted at 23 and subjected to the pulling action of springs 24, then tensioning bars 22. are arranged and operate in a similar manner to that above described with reference to the tension bars 22 for the threads 17. At the upper part of the drum 2 is mounted a needle holder cylinder 28 Fig. 7, having vertical grooves 29 in which the needles 30 can slide, the needles being provided with claws 31 which are confined in a socket 32 provided in a ring 33 sliding vertically on the cylinder 28.

Tlie'needle-holder cylinder 28 is at the top provided with a conical bore 34 against which can bear a. presser cone 35 centrally mounted by means of guides 36 in a fixed cross-bar 37 supported by two vertical uprights 38 39 fixed at their lower part on supports 40 integral with the base 1. The centre 41 of the presser cone 35 is suspended from a rod 42 fastened to an upper horizontal lever 43 articulated by an axle 44 on one of the vertical struts 39.

The mechanical driving gear of the machine comprises: a motor shaft 45 driving by means of a train of tooth-wheels 46 47 a lower driving shaft 48 (Figs. 3 and On this shaft 48 are keyed, two coupled cams 49. a roller device 50. two coupled cams 51 and a sprocket wheel 52. The cams 49 control the rocking of a lever 53 which pivots round an axis 54 ofthe support 40 and brings into action the end of the upper lever 43 by means ofa connecting rod 55. The roller device drives a Maltese cross 56 which communicates an intermittent motion to its axle 57 on which is also mounted an endless screw 58 controlling by means of a cog-wheel 59 the rotation of the cylinder 3 supporting the lower ring 5. The two cams 51 control through the rocking of a lower 60 round an intermediate fixed axle 61 the vertical displacement of a hoop 62 operating by means of rod guides 63 the vertical movement of the ring 33 which causes the rising and falling movements of the needles 30 of the machine, Figs. 1 and 7. i

The sprocket wheel 52 drives a vertical shaft by means of a chain 64 a toothed wheel 65, gear wheels 66, 67 and beveled gear wheels 68 69, Figs. 3, 4 and 6. On this shaft 70 are mounted pinions 71 72, respectively driving the outer teeth of the lower bobbin plate 25 and the inner teeth of the upper bobbin plate 19.

The working of the machine is as follows;

Under the effect of the mechanical driving gear above described, the two rings 5 l2 rotate in opposite directions at the same speed owing to their connection by the set of pinions with fixed axles 8. In view of the relation of the transmission members, the continuous speed of rotation of the bobbinplates 25 19 is equal to the average intermittent speed of the rings 5 12 and each simultaneous displacement of the small plates of the latter, corresponds to the interval between two consecutive needlcs, and is offected by a revolution of the driving shaft 48.

Each revolution of the driving shaft 48 also effects an upward and a downward movement of the needles, the movement being transn'iitted by the ring 33 displaced by the lower hoop 62 which receives its movement from a lever 60 actuated by the cams 51 of the shaft 48. 1

The same shaft 48 also causes at each revolution an upward and a downward movement of the presser cone 35 which is actuated by the upper lever 43 the operation of which is obtained by means of the connecting rod and the lever 53.

At each displacement of the guide bars is produced a crossing of all the adjacent threads 17 and 27 which thus form a new row of stitches, which are brought back against the fabric by the needles 30 the number of which is equal to half of that of the threads of the machine.

The cycle of the motions of the different devices actuated by a revolution of the shaft 48 during the formation of a stitch is as follows The fabric being kept pressed against the conical bore 34 of the drum, the ring 33 is raised in order to make the needles 30 ascend, which thus disengage themselves from the crossing threads forn'iing the last stitch. The movement of simultaneous and contrary rotation of the two rings with small plates 5 12 takes place, followed by the rising of the presser cone 35. The needles then dcsccnd into the new crossing of the threads 17 27 thus forming a new stitch. The presser cone redescends to again press the fabric on the cone 34 thus allowing, through the rencwal of the cycle of operations, the formation of a next stitch.

For the purpose of simplifying the machine the presser cone 35 can be omitted and replaced by one of the retaining arrangements hereinafter described.

\Vithin the bore 34 of the drum 2 and at its upper part is provided a cylindrical socket 73 Fig. 8 in which is arranged a base provided with curved pins 74 the heads of which are directed downwardsso as to form a earder.

The latter allows the fabric to slide downwards as it is being nianufaetin'cd but comiii) pletely prevents it from rising owing to the retention by the pins 74.

The carder can also be formed by a men1- brane furnished with roughnesses having a given direction, as for instance, the skin of certain animals; dog-fish, etc.

The pneumatic device, detailed in Fig. 9, also allows of obtaining the retention of the fabric, it comprises a hollow rubber ring in which air is confined and which rests on a fixed ring 76 concentrically arranged in the bore 3% of the drum. This rubber ring 75 can be compressed by a movable hoop 77 actuated by the operation device of the presser cone illustrated in Fig. 1 or by any other suitable means. The pressure of the rubber ring between the two hoops 76 7' produces the enlargement of its outer dia1neter and consequently enables it to press the fabric against the cone of the drum.

Another modification utilizing compressed air is illustrated in Fig. 10. It is composed of a fixed ring 78 supporting a rubber ring 79 capable of being expanded by air under pressure 80 and relieved of pressure by a mechanically controlled valve 81.

By forcing air into the ring 79 it an pands and squeezes the fabric againstthe cone 3%. The exhaust valve by restoring the ring 79 to its normal volume, restores the necessary clearance inside the cone 34 to allow the fabric to shift.

The machine is of simple construction and low cost price and can be worked at a high speed.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. The combination in a circular warp knitting machine of a vertical drum, :1 cylinder having a conical interior bore and vertical grooves in its periphery fixed on the top of said drum, latch needles in said grooves, a ring having a groove surrounding said cylinder, claws on said needles engaging in the groove of said ring, means for imparting vertical reciprocating movement to said ring and thereby to said needles, a rotary cylinder mounted externally of said drum and co-axially therewith, means for imparting reciprocating rotary movement to said rotary cylinder, an annular plate surrounding said rotary cylinder, a series of horizontal spindles mounted on said plate,

bevelled gears directly coupling the ends of -the same speed, means for guiding the threads from said bobbins to permit their engagement by the hooks of said needles, means for tensioning said threads, and means for pressing and holding the knitted fabric against said conical interior bore of said cylinder throughout the circumference of the latter during the upward movement of said needles.

2. The combination in a circular warp knitting machine of a vertical drum, a cylinder having a conical interior bore and vcrtical grooves in its periphery fixed on the top of said drum, latch needles in said grooves, a ring having a groove surrounding said cylinder, claws on said needles engaging in the groove of said ring, means for imparting vertical reciprocating movement to said ring and thereby to said needles, a. rotary cylinder mounted externally of said drum and co-axially therewith, means for imparting reciprocating rotary movementto said rotary cylinder, an annular plate surrounding said rotary cylinder, a series of horizontal spin dies mounted on said plate, bevelled gears directly coupling the ends of said spindles. a series of bobbins mounted on said spindles, a second annular plate surrounding said cylinder, a series of horizontal spindles mounted thereon, bevelled gears directly coupling the ends of said spindles a series of bobbins mounted on said last mentioned spindles, means for rotating said annular plates in contrary directions and at the same speed, means for guiding the threads from said bobbins to permit their engagement by the books of said needles, means for tensioning said threads, a conical member of slightly less diameter than the conical interior bore of said cylinder, means for imparting vertical reciprocating movements to said conical member contrary to the vertical reciprocating movement of said needles whereby the knitted fabric is pressed and held by said conical member against said conical interior bore of said cylinder throughout the circui'nference of the latter during the upward movement of the needles, and means for guiding said conical member in its vertical movement.

The combination in a circular warp knitting machine of a vertical drum, a cylinder having a conical interior bore and vertical grooves in its periphery fixed on the top of said drum, latch needles mounted in said grooves, a ring having an internal horizontal continuous recess surrounding said cylinder, claws on said needles engaging in said recess, guides on the interior of said drum, vertically slidable rods extending through said guides and connected at their upper ends to said ring, means for imparting reciprocating movement to said rods and thereby to said ring, a rotary cylinder mounted externally of said drum and coaxially therewith, means for imparting reciproeating rotary movement to said rotary cylinder, :1 horizontal flat ring carried by said rotary cylinder and surrounding said needles thread guide plates mounted on said ring, gear teeth on the upper surface of said ring spindles carried by said frame, pinions mounted on said spindles gearing with said gear teeth, a second flat ring superposed and coaxial with said first mentioned flat ring, thread guide plates on said latter ring, gear teeth on the underside thereof gearing with said pinions, an annular plate supported by said frame and surrounding said rotary cylinder a second annular plate of lesser diameter supported by said lra me and surrounding said rotary cylinder below said first mentioned annular plate, a series of directly coupled bobbins carried by each of said annular plates means for rotating said annular plates in contrary directions and at the same speed, means for separating the threads from said bobbins carried by said first mentioned annular plate and for guiding them to said last mentioned thread guide plates, similar means for separating the threads of the other series of bobbins and for guiding them to said first mentioned guide plates, means for tens-inning said threads, and means for pressing and holding the fabric against said conical interior bore of said cylinder throughout the circumference of the later during the upward movement 0t said needles.

In Witness whereof I have signed this specification.

MARIUS RATIGNIER. 

